Ofra Kedar laid to rest: "The soil of Be'eri gathers you"

Four days after her body was recovered from the Gaza Strip, Ofra Kedar who was kidnapped and murdered on October 7th was brought to burial in Kibbutz Be'eri.

Elad Kedar, Ofra's son, eulogized her: "After they told us they brought you back from Gaza, I couldn't stop replaying in my head our last phone conversation, the pictures and videos I saw, the situation we were in at home and the situation you were in when you stood facing the terrorists. I started analyzing the entire situation in my head like in 360 degrees. I need the details to close my personal circle.

I'm full of hope that all the hostage families will also be able to close their circle. Mom, thank you for what you taught me, for all the years you were with us. You are present in each and every one of the children. Thank you for who you were for us, and thanks to you we also got to know a new family. I hope you see how strong Yael is, how much she understands and knows, and how much your character and personality are present in her. You raised and educated her amazingly. I ask for forgiveness, Mom. Forgive me for not coming to you when we spoke, and for not being able to help you. I love you always."

"We weren't just mother and daughter, we were friends"

Yael Kedar, Ofra's daughter: "I want to tell you that I survived and I'm alive. I'm sad that you left us. We weren't just mother and daughter, we were friends. I miss your hugs and I'm continuing on your path. I swim, take care of animals, and give love back to everyone around me. Mom, you taught me so many things and thanks to them I am who I am today. I wanted you to know that there are good people who are with me and love me. My dear brothers Elad and Oren are always by my side even when it's hard for me. I want to thank all the soldiers who brought Mom back. May your memory be blessed, I love you and will remember you forever."

"The soil of Be'eri gathers you"

Inbar Kedar, Ofra's daughter-in-law: "Ofra, my children miss you very much. You are missed by us every day. When we were at the Dead Sea, I so hoped that news would come that you were coming to enjoy the breathtaking view with us, but crossing into the courtyards, hope was replaced by the desire for burial. And today, we merit this moment, and bid you farewell in peace. You are deep within our thoughts and hearts. We love you and watch over us from above, because we are very tired. I long for days of connection and unconditional love in our people, but first of all our moral obligation and ability to rehabilitate ourselves will be after the return of the rest of the hostages: those who are alive for rehabilitation, and those for proper burial in the land of Israel."

Amit Shalev from the management of Kibbutz Be'eri also spoke to Ofra: "Here you are, and this is not how we wanted it to be. And once again 'the soil of Be'eri gathers you' and this is so not you. The circle is closed and your dear family has a grave that can be visited - and still 50 of our people are in Gaza tunnels, at least 20 alive, about 30 fallen and among them five of ours: Yossi, Ilan, Dror, Meni and Sahar, for whom time has stopped, and they must be returned immediately, stop the war in Gaza, and return them all."